And you can preen and dream and scream and shout

[confidentially]

Who| Jessica and You!
What| District 3's M.I.A. mentor makes her triumphant return to the Capitol in time to see several of her tributes die.
Where| Some Capitol viewing party.
When| Week 4
Warnings/Notes| Possible frank sexual discussion.

She walked into the party like a death row inmate shambling to meet her maker. There was no mistaking the unhappy look in her eyes, though she feigned indifference Jessica had never been a decent actress. Still, the other guests gushed and gawked at her like she was some rare, wild bird, caught and caged and on display. After nearly a decade of this crap, she was pretty well used to it.

Freshly returned to the Capitol from an extended stay in District 3, she had on a most eye-catching ensemble, with hair teased high enough to catch everyone's attention. She was a sight to behold and she was accustomed to the attention, even if a year out of the spotlight had done very little to dispel her rage over the changes in the Capitol. She'd always been mercurial, loathing change unless she was the one making it, and these alterations to the way things were did not sit well with her in the least. But after being sent away for some... reeducation, she was prepared to keep her mouth shut and smile for the cameras.

At least until the liquor ran out anyway.

With a ridiculously fruity cocktail in hand, she slid into an empty corner which provided a decent view of the television monitor, sipping her drink as she watched the highlights of the Arena on TV.

"It's like they're not even trying. I swear to god."

Comments

[quiteliterally]

He smiles fondly at them, processing her words with care. "Now, Jessica... May I call you Jessica?" Chris asks gently, leaning forward and resting his arm on his thigh.

"I don't believe in labels, Jessica. Unless we're talking about labeling GMOs on foodstuffs, but we're not, and so I don't. Labels are like boxes, which is fine: for shoes. Not for people. People don't fit in boxes, Jessica. Not even really, really big ones."

His point wasn't about the boxes, though, but what happened when you were put inside one; pigeonholed to the point of no return. "They can also make you believe something about yourself without it ever necessarily being true."

[confidentially]

He seemed to be overly fixated on the box metaphor, which then had her thinking about boxes and shoes and cereal. Her mind wandered for several seconds and danced around her wanting new shoes and her dislike of Raisin Bran before she was suddenly and keenly aware that he'd stopped talking and was clearly expecting her to answer.

"... No one's ever said anything like that to me before. No one from the Capitol anyway."

[quiteliterally]

"Yes, well. That is because I'm me and not anyone else from here. Which is an amazing city, I might add, but that doesn't mean it's without its flaws."

Chris is different from these people, because he cares. Because it isn't about posturing to him, it's about the people. He loves these new games because it allows him the freedom to meet people like Jessica. To do whatever he can to help.

"We all have flaws. Even I'm not perfect." A brief smile, there.

[confidentially]

"I'm perfect," she said, managing to keep her tone and expression vague just long enough to sit up straight and create a graceful segue. "But I appreciate the sentiment. It's not everyday you meet someone from the Capitol who even remembers that we're humans."

Suddenly feeling that she may have to shove her foot into her mouth, she glanced over her shoulder to check if anyone was paying attention to them. From what she could see, the coast looked clear.

[quiteliterally]

He followed her look, not knowing who or what she was looking for. "Are you waiting for someone?"

But then her words are catching up and his gaze rounds back on her, unmistakably concerned. "What else would we be? Though I will admit with all the chemicals in our food these days... Do you read labels, Jessica? It's very important to read labels in this day and age. You are what you eat." And if your food is processed then you're probably not perfect, if you were having trouble following his train of thought.

[confidentially]

She was about to laugh dismissively and teasingly reply that yes, she was waiting for someone. But that temptation evaporated when she was met with his expression of actual concern. "I barely read anything anymore. The last time I read anything, I got in trouble for repeating it out loud."

[quiteliterally]

"That sounds terrifying." It made him sad when people told him things like this, because he'd never had to experience it. The arrival of all these people from other worlds was refreshing; it had put things in perspective for Chris. But for people like Jessica, who was an entirely different sort of native.

[confidentially]

"It was," she said, voice uncharacteristically quiet, so soft it may have been hard for him to make it out above the din.

It had been a difficult lesson for her to swallow. It wasn't just the things she'd said (or thought). It was her inability to control her need to talk, fueled by the vapid lifestyle forced on her by the Capitol. If she'd just been an ordinary girl from District Three, she never would have been exposed to the lust and chaos of the Capitol. She never would have understood exactly how horrible life was for her friends and neighbors in contrast. When she was young, she'd accepted it. Sometimes now, she even found herself feeling nostalgic for it. But the it she felt nostalgia for was a cruel, tormented, beaten down lie. And being intoxicated eliminated her fear of saying exactly that.

"Smile for me, Mister Traeger. I feel like I crapped in your cereal or something. It's totally weirding me out."

it helps when i finish sentences huh

[quiteliterally]

He smiles, which quickly turns to a laugh because he did it on command. And also because-- "Crapped in my cereal. What a ridiculous thing to say. Most cereals are loaded with preservatives and added sugars."

But he allows the cheer to linger, only because she asked so nicely. Or maybe because he was really starting to grow fond of her, already.

it was 3am <3

[confidentially]

She nodded, expression a mix of amusement and boredom. Her typical expression, really. "I think I need another drink. You should get me one."

it was hahahha and i had food poisoning

[quiteliterally]

"Oh, of course." He immediately flies to his feet, Champion stirring to action even though he's enjoying the pettings he's getting from Jessica. "Champion, stay."

An even brighter grin takes his previous smile's place. "What can I get you?"

oh no D:

[confidentially]

Jessica grinned, taking great satisfaction in the turn around she'd just witnessed. After all, hadn't he just chastised her for drinking too much?

"A coconut daiquiri. With an extra shot." She batted her eyelashes innocently.

yes but i am all better now ;;

[quiteliterally]

Well, coconut wasn't bad for you in and of itself, and you can expect he will grill the bartender about it and all of its components. And yet, before too too long, Chris returns with two drinks, identical.

"My sugar allotment was low for the day, so I decided I could join you." He hands her her drink before sitting back in his seat across the way. "Besides, this is delicious, if absurdly bad for me."

He takes a loud sip from his straw, leaving the shot alone for now.

good <33

[confidentially]

Her face lit up when he returned, and she paused petting Champion to clap and let out a giddy laugh.

"These look fantastic!" She was practically purring. "It's exactly what I need to take my mind off the Arena."

Eagerly, she went straight for the shot and downed hers before turning her attention to the fruity concoction.

:-*

[quiteliterally]

"Like this?" he asks, with a bit of a laugh, downing his shot to mirror her. "Oh... oh, that's strong."

He'll regret this in the morning, but he can always double his lunch run to work it out of his system. Chris goes cheerily back to his straw, still enjoying how sweet Champion and Jessica look huddled on the couch together.

"Let's pick a better subject, then, shall we? Does that shade of lipstick have a name?"

[confidentially]

"The stronger the better," Jessica cooed, sipping through her straw. The stronger the alcohol, the easier it was to forget everyone and everything that hurt inside. She wasn't dependent on it, or at least she told herself that a lot. But it did make the world a lot easier to accept.

She pressed her lips together before flashing a smile. "My stylist selected it. It's called 'Paradise Lost'. Isn't it gorgeous? I feel like an angel."

[quiteliterally]

"'Paradise Lost.'" He mulls that over - it sounded expensive. Who was their stylist again? "It is very lovely. And it compliments your skin tone perfectly."

Chris smiles, taking a noisy sip. Maybe he can let the job go for tonight.

[confidentially]

"Thanks. I'm very particular about what I wear." She had her own stylists, thanks to her lucrative career in modeling, but she still had to rely on the District's overall aesthetic for certain things. Something about a cohesive story or some such. Jessica didn't really listen when Valeria spoke. "I have a certain look I like to strive for."

[quiteliterally]

"It isn't as... overt as the way the women in the Capitol dress." That's a nice way of saying they look jacked. "But it is still very lovely."

<3333333 cutie!

[confidentially]

"I try to do my District proud." Jessica delicately sipped her drink through her straw. "They're not about the Capitol aesthetic. We're a bit more practical out in Three."

no u!

[quiteliterally]

He crossed one leg over the other and settled in against of the side of the couch with his drink, regarding her carefully. "I think people underestimate how sexy practicality can be." ...He's not flirting with her, he's just drunk.

[confidentially]

"Oh yeah," she purred, leaning in closer, somehow managing to keep her expression mostly serious. "I think practicality is an incredibly sexy trait. The world would be a sexier place if we were all a bit more practical, don't you think?"

[quiteliterally]

"Absolutely. Just imagine how exponentially sexy the Capitol could be if everyone was also fiscally responsible." HA! Math is sexy, fight him or something.

[confidentially]

Jessica snorted, practically exhaling her drink. "You sure know how to talk pretty, mister."

[quiteliterally]

"Thank you. I deliberately tune my voice, decibel level and word choice to be the most pleasant experience for the other person as possible." S-so sincere.